Delaying CDMA Network closure is a joke

Submitted: Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 08:14
ThreadID: 53647 Views:2215 Replies:13 FollowUps:12
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Delaying the closure is a joke. Most CDMA users have already changed to to new system over the last few months, convinced by Telstra staff via, mail, SMS and phone calls to their CDMA, stating all that the network was definately closing on 28th January. The govt has left the delayed closure of the network far too late, there must be only a handfull of people left on the network. If the last Federal Government acted some time back to keep the CDMA system operating a little longer, there would be more pressure on Telstra now to get the Next G system up to scratch. With only a handful of CDMA users left, Telstra already has what it wants and the pressure to get the Next G system working properly is minamal. Michael
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Reply By: Mike Harding - Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 08:46

Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 08:46
Switched my GSM to NextG but I still have my CDMA on the $5 per month plan.

So far I've noticed CDMA still has slightly better coverage but I haven't been bush enough over the past 6 months to get a broad picture.

Agreed though - they should have sorted this out 3 months or more ago not 10 days before the date!

Mike Harding
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Reply By: Member - Oldbaz. NSW. - Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 10:14

Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 10:14
Not sure about only a handful left on CDMA. Just down the road from you in the Canberra area most rural subscribers still have the
cdma. Due mainly to the undertaking given by local Fed MP that
the network would not close as suggested by Telsta. I had to
replace mine due to running over it with tractor. However have found the Next G Samsung A412 to work everywhere the cdma
did, & without a full car kit....oldbaz
AnswerID: 282449

Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 12:34

Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 12:34
I have said for awhile now that I thought the problem was related more to crappy quality handsets more so than network issues.
Those who have bought name brand reputable handsets (Samsung, Nokia etc) seem to have the least problem.
Those with the cheap Telstra brand or the Lousy Goods (LG) brand seem to be complaining constantly.

This theory now seems to be confirmed by the ACMA report that Conroy based his decision.
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Follow Up By: Mainey (wa) - Sunday, Jan 20, 2008 at 17:11

Sunday, Jan 20, 2008 at 17:11
John,

have allways wondered what " LG " stood for :-)))

Will be confirmed by some washing machine sales reps also...
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Reply By: unimog - Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 10:37

Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 10:37
Still on CDMA myself, and will be till it ends!! It's gonna be a stormy ride, but hang on and ride it out!!!
AnswerID: 282459

Reply By: Member - Mike DID - Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 10:50

Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 10:50
Got a letter from Telstra saying your number 0408 xxx xxx will not work after Jan 28th.

Strange, because that's my GSM number !!!
AnswerID: 282464

Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 17:22

Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 17:22
Bet you they shut it down
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Reply By: Crackles - Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 12:57

Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 12:57
It appears now that if your Next G phone doesn't work where a CDMA does (as advertised) then when checked in the field & confirmed, Telstra will be forced to replace your phone with a CDMA handset at no cost until the service is upgraded.
Agree that the decision to delay the closure should have been made before xmas.
Cheers Craig...............
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Reply By: baldman - Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 12:59

Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 12:59
Another unforseen or unpublicised issue with NextG is that in 2006/2007 when a large telecommunications (I won't mention the companies name as not to upset Sol) launched their 3G network following the spectacular failure of their revolutionary i-mode network, is that when the briefings for 3G were being rolled out their training facilitators were giving the staff that impression the 3G network was the one that would replace CDMA. This resulted in a large number of CDMA customers moving to 3G under the impression that it would be fine.

Whilst customers on the fringe of GSM areas didn't find to much difference a lot of rural customer found that they lost coverage in certain spots and complained to the company. In rare instances the services were returned to the original CDMA service. Others were basically told tough titties the service will improve.

Therefore there is a large customer base with 3G handsets (which were sold to them as being compatible with NextG) waiting for the closure of the CDMA network for a promised improvement in their service.

How do I know, I used to work for one of their biggest dealers, crazy aint it.

baldman

AnswerID: 282490

Reply By: madcow - Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 14:26

Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 14:26
It really leaves the door open for some sort of reimbursement for those that had changed in the form of free monthly rental or $20 credit towards prepaid for the stuffup
AnswerID: 282495

Follow Up By: baldman - Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 19:21

Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 19:21
Not really, their official line is that when the customer agreed to the service the product was defined as being connected to the 3G network and service was to be accepted with it's limitations in relation to coverage. This is covered in their voice recording when they direct you to read their terms and conditions on telstra.com.

I am so glad that I am out of the industry, and back on the tools, at least now I can rip off customers the old fashioned way (lol).

baldman
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Reply By: fisho64 - Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 15:25

Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 15:25
"With only a handful of CDMA users left, Telstra already has what it wants and the pressure to get the Next G system working properly is minamal"

not sure about the "handful of users" but I think regardless the cost of keeping the CDMA network alive will be painful for Telstra.
It was inevitable that people would be unhappy with coverage, and it would be delayed.
AnswerID: 282509

Reply By: Mr Fawlty - Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 16:01

Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 16:01
Ok I'm game enough to ask... How you you know if you have a "blue tick" next G handset? Apparently all non "Blue Tick" handsets have to be replaced at Telstra's expense before the CDMA net work can close.....
AnswerID: 282515

Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 16:11

Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 16:11
Wasn't that only for those who live and work in areas defined as requiring the blue tick phone??
People such as farmers?
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Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 17:53

Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 17:53
whats a blue tick handset?
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Follow Up By: marq - Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 18:20

Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at 18:20
Most of the so called "blue tick" phones are piles of crap - that's what let Telstra down...

I have the LG500 and it's a pile of junk - thinking about getting a Nokia 6120C similar..
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Follow Up By: Patrol22 - Sunday, Jan 20, 2008 at 11:46

Sunday, Jan 20, 2008 at 11:46
marq - I too have a LG500 and it works like a dream both in town and in the broader regional areas between Canberra and the High Country. What causes you to call it a 'pile of junk'?
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Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Yalgoo) - Sunday, Jan 20, 2008 at 14:44

Sunday, Jan 20, 2008 at 14:44
yep pile of junk. loses reception right at the outskirts of perth and can have a reception range as little as 5km from approaching towns.
gets outperformed in reception by gsm frequently
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Follow Up By: madcow - Monday, Jan 21, 2008 at 07:36

Monday, Jan 21, 2008 at 07:36
I own a Samsung A411 and it is giving me good coverage so far. i had to get the foxtel and bigpond features turned off as i do not use it. All we want is the bugger to ring wnd to be able to call out when required.
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Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Monday, Jan 21, 2008 at 10:18

Monday, Jan 21, 2008 at 10:18
Like Mad, I want a phone, thats just a phone... rings out and recieves calls. but you cant buy a phone like that anymore, they all have the money costing gimicks.
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FollowupID: 547366

Reply By: Neil & Pauline - Sunday, Jan 20, 2008 at 20:21

Sunday, Jan 20, 2008 at 20:21
I agree. It appers that next G can not go to full power at a lot of transmitters until CDMA is switched off. Bottom line the Gov has short changed those who have changed. I find the Next G at least as good as CDMA except the phone is cr*** (LG)
AnswerID: 282760

Follow Up By: AdlelaideGeorge - Monday, Jan 21, 2008 at 08:31

Monday, Jan 21, 2008 at 08:31
I agree that's one way to look at it - the other way to look at it is:no consumer should have taken up the 'offer' of a nextG service until it was KNOWN, as in PROVEN, to be up to the same standard as the CDMA one it was replacing. That way CDMA customers wouldn't have been 'short changed' by buying a service that wasn't as good as the one it was to replace after being given misleading information by Telstra!
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Reply By: pathfinder - Monday, Jan 21, 2008 at 09:20

Monday, Jan 21, 2008 at 09:20
Personally I'm a bit confused about why so many people rushed in to change their handsets... Good handset availability always lags the introduction of a new network, and given that it only takes a day to change a phone, why not leave it until the last minute and keep your functioning CDMA going in the meantime... If more people had've held out on changing (I won't say 'upgrading', because many people are now locked into 2-year contracts with cr*p handsets) their handsets, it would have put more pressure on Telstra to offer better deals and ensure the new network and handsets were more attractive in every way...
AnswerID: 282859

Reply By: Member - Mike DID - Monday, Jan 21, 2008 at 20:40

Monday, Jan 21, 2008 at 20:40
Quote from SMH article

"Telstra sets up hotline ahead of CDMA closure"

"A telephone hotline has been established to assist Telstra's mobile phone customers make the move from CDMA to Next G.

Last week, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy announced the telco would have to delay its CDMA switch-off by at least three months because Next G's performance in the bush was not up to scratch.

The closure was due on January 28 but Senator Conroy ordered Telstra to report back to him by April 28 before any shutdown was allowed to proceed.

Telstra Country Wide Group managing director Geoff Booth said the company would open a special hotline - 1800 888 888 - tomorrow for customers having issues with their handsets and equipment.

The hotline is being established in response to Senator Conroy's request for extra measures to help Telstra customers with handset issues.

"This extends the unprecedented measures that Telstra has put in place both before and after purchase to help customers get the handset and accessories that best meet their requirements," Mr Booth said."
AnswerID: 282966

Reply By: Brew69(SA) - Monday, Jan 21, 2008 at 20:56

Monday, Jan 21, 2008 at 20:56
"Delaying the closure is a joke. Most CDMA users have already changed to to new system over the last few months,"

Only the ones who wanted poorer coverage it would seem. Telstra are worse than the Govt (Lab or Lib). I for one will never deal with them again.
AnswerID: 282973

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